Anthony Poindexter

Last updated

Anthony Poindexter
Anthony Poindexter.jpg
Penn State Nittany Lions
Position:Defensive coordinator & safeties coach
Personal information
Born: (1976-07-28) July 28, 1976 (age 48)
Lynchburg, Virginia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school: Forest (VA) Jefferson Forest
College: Virginia
NFL draft: 1999  / round: 7 / pick: 216
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
  • Virginia (2003)
    Graduate assistant
  • Virginia (2004–2005)
    Running backs coach
  • Virginia (2006–2008)
    Running backs coach & assistant special teams
  • Virginia (2009)
    Defensive backs coach & assistant special teams
  • Virginia (2010–2012)
    Safeties coach & special teams
  • Virginia (2013)
    Safeties
  • Connecticut (2014–2016)
    Defensive coordinator & safeties coach
  • Purdue (2017–2020)
    Co-defensive coordinator & safeties coach
  • Penn State (2021–present)
    Co-defensive coordinator & safeties coach
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference
College Football Hall of Fame

Anthony Scott Poindexter (born July 28, 1976) is an American football coach and former safety, who is the current safeties coach for the Penn State Nittany Lions. He played college football at Virginia from 1995 to 1998 for head coach George Welsh, and earned All-American honors. He then played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns from 1999 to 2001.

Contents

Early life

Poindexter, a native of Bedford County, Virginia, attended New London Academy, Forest Middle School, and Jefferson Forest High School in Forest, Virginia. [1] In middle school, he led his team to an undefeated season as quarterback. In high school, Anthony excelled in football, baseball, and basketball. [1] As quarterback and safety, Poindexter led the Cavaliers to back-to-back Division 3 football championships in 1992 and 1993, defeating Matoaca High School in both finals. [2] Poindexter earned first-team all-state honors as a junior and senior. He was selected as the 1993 AP Group AA Player of the Year as a senior. [1] Poindexter was drafted by the Florida Marlins of Major League Baseball during his senior season of high school. [2] [3]

College career

Poindexter accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Virginia and he played safety for coach George Welsh's Virginia Cavaliers football team from 1995 to 1998. He was compared to NFL players such as Ronnie Lott, [4] for his hard-hitting style. As a redshirt freshman in 1995, Poindexter teamed with fellow defensive back Adrian Burnim in one of the most famous plays in Cavalier history as the two stopped Florida State's running back Warrick Dunn inches from the goal line, defeating the second ranked Seminoles 32-28. [1] In 1996, he made a school record with 98 tackles and as a junior in 1997 he finished with 78. [5] As a junior, Poindexter had the choice between declaring himself for the 1998 NFL draft or staying in college for his senior year. Draft experts projected that he would likely be drafted in the first round, but Poindexter stayed at Virginia for his senior season but watched his draft stock plummet as injuries corrupted his senior season. The Cavaliers were expected to have a very strong team and were ranked as high as the top ten. In the first seven games of the season, Poindexter made 73 tackles, two sacks and three interceptions.

In a game against N.C. State in 1998, Poindexter made a tackle on wide receiver Chris Coleman but he twisted his left leg and tore his ACL and two other ligaments. His season at Virginia was over, and possibly his professional career; he could not participate in the NFL Scouting Combine or the Virginia Pro Day.

Poindexter's No. 3 [UVA] jersey was retired on October 10, 2009. [6]

Poindexter was named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2020. [7]

Professional career

His chances of getting drafted were slim and depended on the teams doctors' opinions. The Baltimore Ravens took a chance on Poindexter by drafting him in the seventh round with the 216th overall pick. [8] In his rookie season, he was placed on the injured reserve list, but he returned for the Ravens' championship season in 2000. He played in 10 games on special teams where he caused one forced fumble. He did not play in Super Bowl XXXV, however. Shortly after the game, he was released, but was picked up by the Cleveland Browns in June 2001. He was released again in September that same year and never played another NFL game.

Coaching career

After the end of his NFL career in 2001, Poindexter returned to his alma mater as a graduate assistant. He eventually made his way up the coaching totem pole and was the safeties coach at the end of his tenure at the University of Virginia.

In 2014, Poindexter accepted a position at the University of Connecticut as the defensive coordinator/safeties coach. Poindexter was dismissed along with the rest of the defensive coaching staff at the end of the 2016 season. [9]

In 2017, Poindexter was hired as the co-defensive coordinator (along with Nick Holt) and safeties coach. Purdue made two bowl games in his tenure as defensive coordinator.

In 2021, Poindexter was hired as safeties coach at Penn State. At the end of the 2023 regular season, PSU defensive coordinator, Manny Diaz, left to take the head coaching position at Duke. Poindexter was then appointed as interim co-defensive coordinator for Penn State's appearance in the Peach Bowl.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rod Woodson</span> American football player and coach (born 1965)

Roderick Kevin Woodson is an American former professional football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons. Widely considered one of the greatest cornerbacks of all time, Woodson holds the NFL record for fumble recoveries (32) by a defensive player, and interceptions returned for touchdown (12). He was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1993.

Harry James Sharper Jr. is an American football coach and former player. Sharper played professionally as a linebacker for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL), and played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 1997 NFL draft. Sharper spent five seasons in Baltimore, where he was part of the team that won the franchise's first Super Bowl in Super Bowl XXXV. In 2002, he was selected by the Houston Texans in their expansion draft and played three seasons with the team. During his final season in 2005, Sharper was a member of the Seattle Seahawks. He is the older brother of former safety Darren Sharper.

Anthony Lee Weaver is an American football coach and former player who is the defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served for the Cleveland Browns, the Buffalo Bills, the Baltimore Ravens, the Houston Texans and the New York Jets. Weaver was a college football defensive end at Notre Dame and was drafted by the Ravens in the second round of the 2002 NFL draft. He also previously played for the Texans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Kerney</span> American football player (born 1976)

Patrick Manning Kerney is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers in Charlottesville and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 1999 NFL draft with the 30th overall pick.

Charles Douglas Cecil is an American football coach and former player in the National Football League (NFL). He is a senior defensive assistant for the University of Arizona, his alma mater. He previously served as a defensive assistant for the Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Rams. Cecil also spent two seasons (1999–2000) as a television analyst for University of Arizona football games. As a player, he was a Pro Bowl safety.

Cornell Desmond Brown is an American football coach and former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. He played college football for Virginia Tech, and earned All-American honors twice. Drafted late in the sixth round of the 1997 NFL draft, he played professionally for the NFL's Baltimore Ravens. In 2013, Brown was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brock Marion</span> American football player (born 1970)

Brock Elliot Marion is an American former professional football player who is currently the defensive backs coach for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). He was a free safety for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for the Nevada Wolf Pack, he was chosen in the seventh round of the 1993 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He also played for the Miami Dolphins and the Detroit Lions, and was a three-time Pro Bowler with the Dolphins. He is the son of NFL player Jerry Marion.

Dennis Lee Thurman is an American football coach and former player. He is a former coach in the National Football League (NFL) for the Phoenix Cardinals, the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Jets, and in the Alliance of American Football (AAF) for the Memphis Express. He played as a cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys and the St. Louis Cardinals. He played college football for the USC Trojans.

Darren Perry is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions from 1988 to 1991. After graduating, he was selected in the eighth round of the 1992 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played in the NFL for eight seasons, seven with the Steelers, but also with the San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, and New Orleans Saints. Perry retired from playing in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Canty (defensive lineman)</span> American football player (born 1982)

Christopher Lee Canty is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers. Canty was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL draft. He also played for the New York Giants, winning Super Bowl XLVI with them over the New England Patriots in 2011, and the Baltimore Ravens. After his playing career, he became a sports radio host.

Kurt Keola Gouveia is an American football coach and former linebacker who played 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and one season in the XFL. During his career, he played for the Washington Redskins, the Philadelphia Eagles (1995), and the San Diego Chargers (1996–1998). In 2001, he also played for the Las Vegas Outlaws in the now-defunct XFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarence Vaughn</span> American football player (born 1964)

Clarence Vaughn is an American former professional football safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins.

Ras-I Luis Dowling is an American football coach and former player who is the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach for the William & Mary Tribe. He played professionally as a safety in the National Football League (NFL).

Cody James Grimm is an American football coach and former safety. He previously served as an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D'Anton Lynn</span> American gridiron football player and coach (born 1989)

Anthony Ray "D'Anton" Lynn II is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator for the USC Trojans of the Big Ten Conference (NCAA). He was previously the defensive coordinator for the UCLA Bruins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Midget</span> American football player and coach (born 1978)

Anthony Midget is an American football coach. He is the assistant secondary coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Virginia Tech. After a short-lived career playing professionally in the National Football League (NFL), Midget began coaching beginning at the high school level and then progressing from college to the NFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Harris (safety)</span> American football player (born 1991)

Anthony Harris is an American former professional football safety. He played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers, and was signed by the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He played his first six seasons with Minnesota, and was the NFL interceptions co-leader in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adrian Amos</span> American football player (born 1993)

Adrian Gerald Amos Jr. is an American professional football safety who is a free agent. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft. He has also played in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, and Houston Texans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Eberflus</span> American football player and coach (born 1970)

Matthew Charles Eberflus is an American professional football coach who most recently was the head coach for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) from 2022 to 2024. He also served as the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts from 2018 to 2021 and as the linebacker coach for the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys, and has coached at Toledo and Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brent Pry</span> American football player and coach (born 1970)

Brenton James Pry is an American football coach and former player who is currently the head coach at Virginia Tech. He previously served as the defensive coordinator at Penn State from 2016 to 2021. He played college football for the Buffalo Bulls.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Feldkamp, Justin (October 13, 2013). "Poindexter and Berry Honored by VHSL Hall of Fame". wset.com. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Williams, Jennifer. "CAV-TO-BE DOMINATES ON DEFENSE". dailypress.com. Daily Press. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Poindexter Named to Virginia High School Hall of Fame". University of Virginia. July 11, 2013. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  4. ↑ "AT VIRGINIA, SAFETY POINDEXTER RECORDS ALL THE GREATEST HITS - The Washington Post". The Washington Post .
  5. ↑ "Anthony Poindexter named to 2016 CFB HOF Ballot". June 3, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Anthony Poindexter". University of Virginia. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Anthony Poindexter Named To 2020 Class of College Football Hall of Fame". Virginia Cavaliers Official Athletic Site. March 11, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  8. ↑ "1999 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  9. ↑ Staff (December 26, 2016). "UConn head coach Bob Diaco fired after three seasons". si.com. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.